This hand blown glass sculpture drew inspiration from anatomical wax models observed in La Specola in Florence and real hearts from a butcher’s shop in Copenhagen. Maria Koshenkova drew on realistic anatomical sketches to form this final abstract glass form. She wanted to imbue the hearts with a sense of brokenness, fragility and durability, qualities that characterise glass as well as the heart, a vital organ and oft-reproduced symbol. She also plays with idioms: cold-hearted, broken-hearted, warm-hearted, heart of stone.

Length 24 cm
Width 23 cm
Height 26 cm

This hand blown glass sculpture drew inspiration from anatomical wax models observed in La Specola in Florence and real hearts from a butcher’s shop in Copenhagen. Through this glass creation, Maria Koshenkova wanted to imbue the hearts with a sense of brokenness, fragility and durability, qualities that characterise glass as well as the heart, a vital organ and oft-reproduced symbol. She also plays with idioms: cold-hearted, broken-hearted, warm-hearted, heart of stone.

Length 28 cm
Width 21 cm
Height 24 cm

This orange glass sculpture is from Maria Koshenkova’s Restrain and Release series, created while in Japan. The series drew inspiration from the Japanese bondage practice of Shibari, characterised through its amalgamation of control and submission. Maria modelled for a Shibari master and translated the experience into glass shapes. This glass sculpture represents Maria’s own body in conversation with rope.

Length 39 cm
Width 24 cm
Height 26 cm

This creased white glass sculpture is part of Maria Koshenkova’s Restrain and Release series, created while in Japan. The series drew inspiration from the Japanese bondage practice of Shibari, characterised through its amalgamation of control and submission. Maria modelled for a Shibari master and translated the experience into glass shapes, representing her own body in conversation with rope.

Length 52 cm
Width 23 cm
Height 26 cm

This glass sculpture was inspired by the Japanese bondage practice of Shibari, characterised through its amalgamation of control and submission. Ropes bear controversial meanings (i.e. both violence and safety). Maria Koshenkova wanted to investigate the concept of freedom and the conflict between extreme materialism and fragility which glass represents. She sculpted the mould from real rope which she burnt to cast with glass.

Length 35 cm
Width 33 cm
Height 30 cm